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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Hibiscus tiliaceus Trade Name Blue mahoe Family Name Malvaceae Common Names Bago, Balibago, Bauan, Bitnong, Blue mahoe, Bolibago, Danglin, Danglog, Emajagua excelsa, Jablot, Lambago, Laoga, Mahoe, Majagua, Majagua azul, Malabago, Malibago, Malubago, Marakapas, Mayambago, Mountain mahoe, Ragindi, Seaside mahoe Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico Common Uses Beams, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Inlay work, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Ornamental work , Porch columns, Railroad ties Environmental Profile Rather rare in parts of its range expecially at periphery Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview Cotton tree is found along the sandy coasts of tropical Asia, Indonesia and tropical Australia and is particularly abundant on the islands of the Pacific. In Queensland it grows on coastal sand dunes from the New South Wales border to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Tropical seashores of Africa and Polynesia. Central and southern Florida, including the Florida Keys. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Purple Purple Brown Greenish to greyish Grayish brown or olive Blue and purple shades Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Well defined Whitish White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Even Straight Figure Interlocked Rippled (figure) Straight Rippled figure Interlocked Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Variable Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Very high natural resistance Very durable Durable Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Seasons easily with little degrade Moderate Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Responds well to both hand and machine tools Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 47 lbs/ft3 Specific Gravity 0.58 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 753 kg/m3 Specific Gravity 0.58 References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Record, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47 Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7 Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29